Five in every 10 Filipino women use a family planning method.

Half of all Filipino women of reproductive age are into family planning with many of them using modern than traditional methods.

The results of the 2003 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) revealed that 49% of women are into family planning with 33 percent of them using modern methods while 19 percent applying traditional methods.

Based on the study, the most popular methods are the pill (13 percent), female sterilization (11 percent), withdrawal (8percent), periodic abstinence (7 percent),  IUD (4percent), injectables (3 percent) and other methods (1 percent).

Although family planning use in the country has increased through the years, the Commission Population (POPCOM) believes that it is still low compared to other ASEAN countries. Thailand for example, has a contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) of 70%.

According to Mr. Tomas Osias, Executive director of POPCOM, there is a need to bring FP information and services to communities and households to reach more men and women of reproductive age.  He added that informed choice is an important part of family planning counseling in which couples are educated about possible side effects of contraceptive methods, be told what to do if they experience any side effects, and be informed of other possible FP methods.

In the NDHS study, less than 2 in 5 women receive proper counseling on the modern method they use.  

On the other hand, couples who are not into family planning said their desire to have as many children as possible was due to their fear of side effects from contraceptive use. 

There is an estimated 2 million couples with unmet need for family planning in the Philippines. Unmet need is defined as the percentage of currently married women who either wish to have no more or wait before having the next one but are not using any family planning method.